Lenovo V17 Gen 2 review
The Lenovo Lenovo V17 Gen 2 ranks as the #664 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 67. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #222-ranked connectivity among 616 laptops. Consider the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x or Lenovo ThinkBook Plus, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Lenovo V17 Gen 2 is an entry-level laptop that checks most boxes for its price point. The display is a highlight with decent peak brightness, good uniformity, and near-full sRGB coverage. Performance-wise, the Core i5 variant provides decent results but can't sustain heavy loads. The cooling solution is also lacking, causing clock speeds to drop during stress tests. Despite these shortcomings, the V17 Gen 2's affordability makes it a worthwhile option for casual users or those on a tight budget. If you prioritize display quality and don't need extreme performance, this laptop might be worth considering.
Build
The Lenovo V17 Gen 2's build quality is its major letdown. The plastic chassis feels flimsy due to its thin profile (19.9mm) and low weight (2.2kg). This results in bendy areas around the lid and keyboard deck, a clear sign of compromise on durability. Despite this, the base offers ample space for a keyboard unit, touchpad, fingerprint reader, numpad, and even a decent-sized cooling vent at the bottom. However, the overall construction feels fragile, making it less suitable for heavy usage or accidental drops. While the laptop's large display is a highlight, its build quality falls short of expectations for a device in this price range. A better alternative might be Lenovo ThinkPad P17 Gen 2, featuring a next-level build.
Display
The Lenovo V17 Gen 2's display is a standout feature. The Full HD IPS screen offers decent peak brightness of around 350 nits, good uniformity, and a high contrast ratio. Additionally, it achieves near-full sRGB coverage. When applied with the design and gaming profile, color accuracy significantly improves to a delta E value of 1.1. This level of display quality is impressive in an affordable budget notebook. Overall, the V17 Gen 2's display is one of its strongest assets, making it well-suited for everyday use, video playback, and light creative work. You may find Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 3 a better fit, thanks to its superior display.
Performance
The Lenovo V17 Gen 2 boasts decent performance, but keep expectations in check. The Core i5-1135G7 variant delivers satisfactory results, although it may struggle with demanding workloads and prolonged usage. Rendering times for creators can be improved with the optional MX350 GPU featuring dedicated memory. However, the cooling system is not capable of sustaining high loads on the chip, causing clock speeds to drop and temperatures to rise. The CPU ran at its base speed during stress testing, while exterior temperatures remained relatively low (35.5°C). Overall, performance is good for entry-level and beginner creator work but may not be sufficient for more demanding tasks or prolonged usage. If you’re after a better performance, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i could be the ideal option.
Battery and Charging
The Lenovo V17 Gen 2's battery unit measures 45Wh, providing nearly 9 hours of web browsing and almost 7 hours of video playback. This is decent considering the affordable price point. The laptop also features a single starting slot to expand storage or RAM. However, the modest cooling solution may impact performance under heavy loads, with CPU clock speeds and temperatures dropping during stress testing. Overall, the battery life is satisfactory for casual users.
Connectivity
The Lenovo V17 Gen 2 boasts an array of ports, including two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (Type-A and Type-C), a slower USB 2.0 port, HDMI out, an audio jack, and an SD card reader. While this selection is decent for its price point, the slower USB 2.0 port is best reserved for peripherals to prevent bottlenecks. For an improved connectivity, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 Pro is worth considering.
Features
The Lenovo V17 Gen 2 boasts a large display, decent key travel, and clicky feedback on its keyboard. It features two USB 3.2 ports, an HDMI outboard, audio jack, and SD card reader. The laptop comes with a modest cooling solution, one heat pipe, and a 45W battery pack. You might want to check out Lenovo ThinkPad P17 Gen 2, featuring an upgraded features for a superior experience.
Support and Maintenance
The Lenovo V17 Gen 2's plastic chassis has questionable build quality due to its thin profile and low weight. Bendy areas are evident on the lid and keyboard deck. However, the laptop excels in terms of display quality, offering a great Full HD IPS panel with decent peak brightness and good uniformity.
Pros
1. Their full HD IPS display here is great offering decent peak brightness of around 350 nits good uniformity high contrast ratio and near full sRGB coverage
2. The keyboard here is a superstar with both a backlight and spill resistance
3. We have good enough key travel and clicky feedback on the touchpad has a Mylar cover which is plenty smooth while the clicking mechanism is comfortable and has a satisfying click
4. You can get decent performance out of this device, especially for entry-level and beginner creator work
Cons
1. The plastic chassis with questionable build quality due to the thin profile and low weight
2. There are bendy areas such as the lid and the keyboard deck which shows the budget nature of the laptop
3. The cooling solution doesn't seem capable of sustaining a load on the chip, resulting in clock speeds going down and temperatures rising during stress tests
4. You only have two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a slower USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI outboard, which may not be enough for more demanding users
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